Embedded in the print industry as I was, and constantly surrounded by the art and story of brilliant works like Aa, Megamisama, it took no time at all for me to realize that I wanted to express myself through drawing too.

So, I set out to learn how to draw, focusing mainly on pinup art and copying the drawing styles (and, often, even the drawings) of my favorite artists. Over time I slowly developed my own style, and started drawing my own original art. However, I could only go so far by myself.

During 1999 I reached a plateau with my pin-up drawings and struggled to find a way to move beyond it, reaching for every possible solution except classes - for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to take a class.

I know now that I should have gone to MCAD and signed up for some live drawing classes, but at the time I was clueless (not that I'm any better now).

I studied the histories of my favorite artists, and noticed that many of them had reached a similar plateau early in their careers, their pinup art reaching a similar plateau at just about the time they started drawing their first manga, then as their manga progressed so did their ability to draw virtually anything.

So, I created UberCyberCats in the hope that it would help me learn how to draw.

Since then, I feel like I've found my "voice" with a pencil. Although I still feel like a hack and am utterly convinced that every single thing I draw is embarassing, pointless, and crap, through the brilliant help of some incredibly generous and patient artists I have learned that continuing to draw despite perpetual self doubt is just a part of the process.